Why we require specific qualifications
Why we require a good advanced qualification in Mathematics
We require a good qualification in Mathematics. We do so for good reasons. We don't just do it to be awkward.
Our experience is that, if you did not have a good qualification in Mathematics, you would find the first year of our programme very difficult, and it is likely that you would not pass our end-of-first-year exams.
There will be no time for you to learn Mathematics as you go along: we use Mathematics right from the start, and all the way through - not only in the first year, but in all years.
We use Mathematics, not for the sake of it, but because it is an essential tool of any engineering or scientific education: and Computer Systems Engineering in particular requires a lot of mathematical ability.
As with any specific application of Mathematics, you will find that you need a good knowledge of some parts of Mathematics - which will be developed during the programme - and no knowledge beyond the introductory level of other parts. But a good knowledge across the subject at introductory level - say, equivalent to A-level grade A or B - is where we start.
Of course, not all our applicants will be taking A-levels. Perhaps, in the qualification you are taking, students take some subjects at a Higher level and others at a Lower level. In that case, we will require a good grade in mathematics at the Higher level.
You can visit other pages to see how and why we teach what we teach, and also navigate forward from our list of programmes to access descriptions of modules that either are explicitly mathematical (preparing you for a later module), or that use mathematics for some scientific or engineering purpose. Have a look at a few of them, to see what we mean.
Why we require a good basic qualification in physical science
Just as we said above about Mathematics, you will find that you need a good knowledge of a few aspects of physical science - which will be developed during the programme - and no knowledge beyond the introductory level of other parts. But a good knowledge across the subject at introductory level - say, equivalent to GCSE Double Science (or Single Physics) at grade C or better - is where we start.
There are two reasons for our requirement:
-
Computer Systems, and especially their users, exist in the physical world. You need to know about it.
-
Computer Systems are electronic machines. Most of the things they are immediately connected to (such as networks) are also electronic. You will need to know about electronics - we will teach you - but you need to start somewhere.
At GCSE, Double Science is acceptable, although Single Physics would be even better; grade C is acceptable, but of course we would like you to obtain as high a grade as you can. And, if you are taking them at AS or A level, any of Physics, Electronics or Chemistry would be an even more useful preparation.
Of course, not all our applicants will be taking British A-level (or Advanced Higher) qualifications. If your school-leaving qualification comprises five or more subjects, normally expressed with an overall score, then you really would benefit if you included a physical science among them. If your subjects are some at a higher level and some at a lower level, the physical science could be at the lower level; but, the higher the level, the better.
Foundation and Access qualifications
If you are taking an Access or Foundation programme, in Britain or overseas, and offering it to us as your university entrance qualification, then we will indeed require it to include a qualification specifically in Physics or Electrical science. We require it because we wish to be fair to you, and do not want to risk wasting your time and effort. We require it as a result of past experience. We need you to be prepared for a program that is engineering in its approach: even if that is, in your case, mainly software engineering or consumer-product engineering or human-computer-interaction engineering. Of course, we teach engineering with business awareness; but we are not a department of business studies.
How our requirements and preferences were evolved
In all cases, these requirements and preferences have been evolved in the light of our actual experience - and the experience of entrants, especially during the first year of our programmes, who have come to us with different qualifications.
How to contact us | Page author Bill Freeman | Page last updated 10 Dec 2008